Voice writing, from first thought to reviewed draft

Draft fiction and nonfiction in short passages

For fiction, choose a point of view and what changes in the scene. Speak a short passage, then read it back for tense, character names, and dialogue. For nonfiction, start with the point the paragraph needs to make and keep your source notes beside the draft.

1. Plan the paragraph: note its purpose and the details you want to include.
2. Place the cursor in your document and dictate a short draft. Finish dictation before moving to another field.
3. Read the passage. Check names, numbers, punctuation, and negations such as "not". Verify quotations against the source.
4. Revise a small selection, then read the full paragraph to check that it still says what you mean.

Try this practice sentence

The door was not locked. Mara left the key on the table, but she did not leave the house.

Dictate it in a note and check the two negations and the punctuation. This is a practice input; compare it with the result from your own setup.

Set up recurring words and style rules

Add character names, specialist terms, and invented vocabulary to Aqua's Dictionary. Use the spelling you want to see, then try the word in a sentence.

If your plan includes Custom Instructions, write a short rule and give an example. For instance: "Use sentence case for headings. Example: Notes from the harbour." Check names and headings as you review; these settings guide the output without guaranteeing it.

Revise a selection with Edit Mode

With Edit Mode enabled with Select to Edit in desktop Settings, select a short passage, hold your Aqua key, say the change, and release. Try "Make this sentence shorter without changing its meaning." Compare the replacement with the original and undo it if needed.

Search fields, browser address bars, and selections over 6,000 characters use normal dictation instead of a rewrite. Work in smaller passages for a long document, and keep a copy before a substantial edit.

Turn study notes into your own draft

After reading a source, explain its point aloud in your own words. Keep its citation beside the note and mark direct quotations. When drafting an assignment, distinguish your argument from the author's and check the original source.

Follow your institution's rules for dictation and AI-assisted editing. A permitted text-entry tool may include rewriting features that your assignment does not allow.

Draft a clear team update

Start with what changed, who owns the next action, and what needs a decision. Put the request before background detail so your colleague can see what you need.

Before sending, check the owners, deadlines, recipient, and links. Read the full message and confirm what Enter does in the destination app. You can also draft in a document and move the reviewed text into the conversation.

For private material, read Aqua's Privacy Policy and follow your organization's rules. For activation and correction options, see the reduced-typing guide.